Pump plunger



Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,563

D. BARN/ARD PUMP PLUNGER Original Filed Feb. 1.4, 16923 2 SheetS-Sheetl F512- Fifi TTORHEYS Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,563

D. BARNARD PUMP PLUNGER Original Filed Feb. 14, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' WYE/v70@ @A W5 @HHN/4R0,

HTTORHEYS ?atented Dec. 25, 1928.

UNTED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

PUMP PLUNGER.

Application nled February 14.-, 15,223, Serial No. 618,918. Renewed March 24, 1928.

This invention relates to pump plungers employed in well pumps and is particularly applicable to double stroke pumps.

The double stroke pump such as employed in deep welll pumping employs a pair of buckets or plungers which move in opposite directions so that one plungerV is travelling upwardly while the other travels downwardly, thus preserving a continuous flow from the well. The plungers employed for this purpose are customarily provided with cup shaped gaskets of brous material such asy those, commonly designated as cup leathers, which are mounted with the lips thereof disposed upwardly so that the weight of the water being pumped therewith causes the lip to engage the wall of the pump barrel and thus provide a. good working` seal so that little loss is encountered due to the leakage of water by the plunger.

These cup leathers are formed from sheet leather and provide a circular ring having a lip or cylindricalk portion bent upwardly around the edges thereof. This formation results in a curved corner where the ring portion of the cup leather meets the cylindrical portion thereof. The buckets or plungers in the form in which they are now employed provide cylindrical heads having cup leathers mounted upon the cylindrical face thereof by means of spacing rings or screw rings between which the ring portions of the gaskets are gripped. Sand is encountered in varying` degrees in a majority of wells and constitutes a source of trouble to the pump plunger. During the downward stroke of the plunger, sand enters between the face of the pump barrel and the outer face of they cup gaskets, owing to the fact that the gaskets are rounded at the corner where the cylin-` drical or lip portion thereof meets the ring` portion, thus providing` a rounded corner engagement between the gasket and a pump barrel between which the sand may readily enter during the downward stroke thereof. This sand imbeds itself in the outer face of the cup leathers and causes excessive wear upon the pump barrel and likewise excessive friction therebetween. Sand also works down between the inner face of the lip portion of the cup leathers and the cylindrical face of the head upon which they are mounted and wedging therein forces the leathers outwardly against the pumpbarrel wall and causes excessive friction and wear between the cup leathers and the pump barrel. It is custom ary to provide a valve in the plunger and a number of cup leathers disposed down the surface thereof. Thisl construction results in excessive pressure being exerted, by the head of the water lifted, upon the upper cup leather so that the wear thereof is much more rapid than is the wear of the following cup leathers.

It is an object of my invention to provide a pump plunger which will not sand up, and thus cannot become frozen in the pump barrel.

lt is also an object of the invention to provide in such a plunger means for preventing the entrance of sand between the cup leathers and the face ofthe pump barrel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a plunger in which the load of the head being lifted is evenly distributed throughout the successive cup leathers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve closure member and pump plunger which rotates slightly at each opera tion thereof so that an even wear with the valve seat is accomplished.

For the purpose of preventing the entrance of sand between the cup leather and the pump barrel, a downwardly directed cup gasket is employed yin combination with the upwardly directed cup gaskets so that a scraping contact is provided with the interior wall of the pump barrel during the downward stroke of the plunger, thus removing adhering sand from the barrel wall and preventing` the entrance of sand between the cup gasket and the barrel wall which may imbed in the outer face of the cup gaskets and thus cause excessive wear. The plunger is comprised of consecutively arranged valve members which are linked together, so as to provide unitary action or movement thereof, by

interconnecting rods which serve as cages or guides for the closure members. Each of these valve members is provided with an upwardly directed cup gasket which ext-ends above the top face of the valve member and tnerefore does not provide an annular groove between the valve member and the inner face ofthe cup `@gasket lip between which sand may accumulate. Below each of the upwardly turned cup gaskets a downwardly directed ycup gasket is placed which makes scraping contact with the pump barrel wall during the downward movement ot the plunger, and each ot the mentioned gaskets is preferably initially provided with a continuous and acute outer edge, as shown.

@ne 'form et' the invention provines a eentrally disposed slcei'e through which a pump rod may extend to the lower pump plunger. Around this sleeve a valve ell xre nieieiber is mounted which has vanes associated therewith tor causing the rotation oit the closure member when it is lifted by the inflow` of liquid.

It is a `further object ot the invention to provide a gasket supporting member .vhich is made in the form ot a ring having lips at the outer edge thereof which adhere to the eurvature presented by the corner ot' the cup gasket.

The especial advantages of my invention and further objects thereotl will be n ade evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, which are tor illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic section showing one use to which a plunger embodying the 'features of my invention is adapted.

Fig. 2 isa vertical section through the upper pump plunge shown in 1.

Fig. 3 is a section talren upon a. plane represented by the line 3*-8 of F ig. 9..

l?, ig. 4 is section taken upon a plane represented by the line iet ot Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged Jragmentary sectioned detail showing the stutling box located at the lower end ot the rod carrying sleeve and also showing rod having an exterior brass wearing facing thereupon.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the lower pump plunger shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on a plane represented by the line 7 7 of Fig. G.

ln double stroke deep well pumps, it is customary as shown in 1 to employ an upper plunger 11 which is supported and reciprocated within a pump barrel 12 by a tubular shaft 13 in which there extends a pump rod 14. rlhis pump roc 1li extends through the plunger 11 and support-s a lower pump plunger' 1e. the mouth ol" the well is employed tor reciprocating the pump plungers in opposite directions so that as the upper plunger 11 is moving downwardly, the column of water in the well tubing is being raised by the upward movement ot the lower plunger 15, and liliewise when the lower plunger 15 moves downwardly, the upper plunger 11 li'tts the column or" water.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, l show my invention adapted te the construction ot the upper pump plunger shown at 11 in 1. This pump plunger provides a. number ot valve members 17 which are consecutively arranged as shown and are composed ot upper and lilechanism provided at.

lower valve plates 18 and 1) which clamp the ring or base portions QG o1" cup gaskets 21 against annular supporting member which is provided with oppesitely extending lips 23 which curve inwardly as .indicated at @l so that they lit closely to the rounded corci. provided between the ring portion itl and he lip or cylindrical portion Q5 oit the cup .gaskets 21. rl`hese plates i8 and 19 are ini- 'ially secured together by screws or other mitable bind' means and are later clamped between the ends et' spacing members 28 through which rods 29 extend. T he upper ends of the rode 29 extend through a suspension member. or spider, 31 which is provided .fith a threaded ope -ing 32 into which the tubular shalt. 13 by which the plunger is supported may be screwed shown. il central supporting plate 34C may be provided between the valve members 1? and a spider 35 may b employed to support the lower ends ot the rods in the circular arrangement in which they are preferably disp sed around the central axis of the plunger. Extending down wardly from the suspension member 31 through the openings 3G in the valve members 17 is pump roe. carrying sleeve 38 which is secured to the central supporting member and to the lower spider by means ot suitable threaded engagemen' and clamp nuts 39. Above each ot the valv mein bers 1T a valve closure member zl0 is placed, each ot which is provided with central open- 41 so that the sleeve 3S may extend therethrough.

lt will be noticed that the openingl l1 or' each member 40 is somewhat larger in diameter than the sleeve 38 and. that sleeve t3 e2;- tends downwardly therefrom. rl`he sleeves l2 are inwardly beveled at their lower ends and seat againstl conical closure members 43 which are adjustably mounted upon the sleeve 38 and secured. by clamp nuts. Radial holes A communicate l etween the opening 41 and the cylindrical channel l5 'termed n the closure member 40. As shown in n and 1, vanes l l eo are disposed in the channels and betere the openings so that when the closure member 40 is li'tted and water er other fluid being pumped ilows up through the tubular member 42 it is directed outwardly through the openings 1l due to the inn. ly directed lips e? termed at the ten ol :ie oienings l1. These jets ot water ,tro-m the openings Llll; strihe against the vanes e6, as indicated by the arrows 1:9 in Fi and impart a rotative torce to the closure members which are caused to turn slightly so that when hey again drop upon the seats provided in he upper rings 18, they will assume a dit'- erent relative position. therefore cr-.using a :qual distribution ot wear between the closure members and the va ve members.

lt will be noted that the lips Q5 olf the upwardly directed cup gaskets eX 'end above the ll O lil() Il (l Leccese members 18 and that the supporting rods are spaced inwardly awayfrom the inner tace of the lip 25, thus leaving an ample space therebetween through which water may circulate when it flows upwardly through the openings 3G in the valve member 17 and` is deflected outwardly due to the presence of the closure members. rlfhis intlowing water washes out whatever sand may collect upon the plate 18 and prevents its packing against the cup leathers and thus forcing them outwardly. lljhis packing of sand against the cupleathers is otherwise prevented due to the fact that the construction provides no crevice into which the sand may enter and such` sand as may collect could only rest against the inner tace of the lip due tothe tact 'that there is no cooperating wall such. as provided in the present type ot pumpbucket against which* the sand 'may react to force the lip of the cup gaskets outwardly. Any collection of sand will, however, be Lnecessarily very small owing to the washing action of the intlowing water during the downward `stroke of the plunger. The sleeves 281nounted upon the rods 29 provide a cage structure for the valve members.

lt will benoticed that each oi the. valve members l() is of but slightly smaller external diameter than the .circle deiined by the inner races ot the sleeves 28. The closure members d() are therefore guided by the sleeves and do not engage the threads formed upon the central sleeve 38.

The rod 1e by which the lower plunger 15 is actuated extends centrally within the tubular shaft 13 and through the sleeve 38 which is providedwith a` packing member at its lower end, as shown in Fig. 5. That portion of the rod 111 which extends through the sleeve 38 is provided with a brass covering 51 so that the wearing surfaces of the rod will be oi' reduced irictional characteristics. ln order to prevent the entrance of sand into the packing 1nemberi50, the plunger l1 is so constructed that the upper end oit the sleeve 38 is in liquid tight communication. with the threaded opening82.r The tubular shaft 13 is filled with oilwhieh, although of slightly lighter weight than water, exerts a reacting pressure within the sleeve 38 and the stufling box 50 which prevents the entrance of sand due to difference in pressure between the interior and exterior of the sleeve.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the principles of myinvent-ion are shown applied to the lower pump plunger 15. Thispump plunger, although shown in use as the lower member ot a double stroke pump9 is: suitable for use in single acting water pumps and is tound suitableltor pumping oit oil.` Valve members similar to those shown. in Fig. 1 are connected together in consecutive arrangement by rods. 61 and spacers 62. The upper ends of the rods screw into a ring member 63 which cooperates with. a head-64 and bars 65 intorminga suspension member G6.; In this type of plunger,y

nuts 68 and klock nuts 69 may be employed upon the lower ends ot the rodsi61 instead of ay spideras shown in Fig. 1 at 46. ,Also, in this plunger kthe closure members 40 are replaced by balls 70 which seat in the, `openings of the valve plates 71. The upwardly directedcup Gasket 73 of each valve member 60 arovides` b have sand in suspension therein, upwardly be-v tween` the gaskets and the pump barrel wall. Therefore, all movement/of water must be through the openings in the valve members which assures that no sand willbe deposited upon the wearing faces oit the cup gaskets.

In the ordinary type of pump bucket, only one yvalve is provided in thelplunger and a greater poitioniof the weight of the head of water being lifted must be supported upon the upper cup gasket thereof. My invention provides a number of valve members each having cup gaskets mounted thereupon which valve members are spaced apart but move simultaneously owing tothe interconnecting cage structure. During the downward. stroke of a plunger so construct-ed, the valve balls 7 O are raised and water passes freely through the openings in the valve members. As the plunger starts upwardly from the lowest po,- sition, .the weight ,of the Lhead of water carried by the. plunger is distributed between the separate valve memberssothat the entire pressure thereof is not carried bythe upper cup gasket. s This arrangement adds very greatly to the eiiiciency and also to the durability of the pumpplunger as will be readily recognized. It will be noticed in the plunger shown in Fig. 6 that thecage structure provided by the rods yis spacedsomewhat away from the inner tac-e 80 of the cup gasket-s and that the lips` oi the cup gaskets extend beyond the plates 71 between which they are clamped, therefore preventing the wedging ot sand against the cup gaskets.

l claim as my invention:

1. ,In a pumpplunger, the combination of: a valve seat; a valve coi-acting with said valve seat; an upwardly disposed cupy gasket 'for scraping the pump barrel wall on the upward stroke of saidplunger; adownwardly disposed cup gasket for scraping the pump bar-A rel wall on the downward stroke ot said plunger; means for rigidly securing said cups togetherl ad'acent said valve seat, both ot said cup gaskets being in communication with the valve seat opening when the valve is in open posit-ion; and means :tor rota ng said valve on each downward stroke ot said plunger.

Q. ln a pump plunger, the comoination ot: a substantially iiat valve member; Closure member cooperating with said valve member; a. cup gasket so supported upon said valve member that the lip thereot extends upwardly around and above the top lace ot said valve member; a cage structure tor enclosing said closure membern said cage structure being spaced away from the inner tace et said lip; and means between which said closure member is movable whereby closure memberI is rotated at each operation thereof.

3. ln a pump plunger; the combination ot: a substantially iiat valve member having an opening therethrough; a rod carrying sleeve extending through said opening; closure member adapted to close said opening, said closure member having an opening therethrough through which said sleeve entends; a sleeve extending downwardh trom the mouth ot said opening through s* closure member and around said rod carrying sleeve; and a member mounted upon said rod carrying sleeve tor closing the lower end ot said sleeve extending trom said closure member.

d. ln a pump plunger, the combination ot: a valve member having' an opening therethrough; a rod carrying sleeve extending through said opening; a closure member adapted to close said opening, said closure member having an opening therethrough through which said sleeve extends, and radial openings communicating' with said opening through which said slee-ve passes; venes mounted in such a manner that water passing through said radial openings will strike thereagainst and cause rotation ot said closure member; a sleeve extending downwardly trom the mouth of said opening through said closure member and around said rod carry. n.; sleeve; and a member mounted upon rod Carrying sleeve 'for closing the lower end or said sleeve extending 'from said closure member.

In a pump plunger, the combination ot: a valve member having an openingtherethrough; a rod carrying sleeve extending through said opening; a closure member adapted to close said opening aid closure member having an opening therethrough through which said sleeve extends; a sleeve extending downwardly trom the mouth of said opening through said closure member and around said rod carrying sleeve; a member mounted upon said rod carrying sleeve tor closing the lower end ot said sleeve extending trom said closure member; a cup gasket so mounted upon said valve member that the lip thereof extends upwardly around and above the top tace ot said valve member; and

a cage structure upon said valve member, said cage structure being spaced away trom the inner tace of said lip.

6. in a pump plunger, the combination of: a valve member having an opening therethrough; a rod carrying sleeve extending through said opening; a closure member adapted to close said opening, said closure member having an opening therethrough through which said sleeve extends, and radial openings Communicating with said opening thr ugh which said sleeve passes; vanos mounted in such a manner that water passing mounted in such a manner thatI water passing through said radial openings will strike thereagainst and cause rotation ot said closure member; sleeve extending downwardly from the mouth ot said opening through said closure member and around said rod Vcarrying sleeve; a. member mounted upon f. ln a pump plunger, the combination et: valve member having an openino' there- 4 C through; a rod carrying sleeve extending through said opening; a closure member adapted to close said opening, said closure member having an opening therethrougli through which said sleeve extends, and radial openings communicating with said opening through which said sleeve passes; vanes mounted in such a manner that water passing through said radial openings will strike thereagainst and cause rotation ol said closure member; asleeve ext-ending downwardly trom the mouth ot said opening through said closure member and around said rod carrysleeve; a member mounted upon said rod carrying sleeve tor closing the lower end ot said sleeve extending from said closure member; a cup gasket so mounted upon said valve member that the lip thereof extends upwardly around and above the top tace et said valve member; suspension and cage forming rods mounted in circular arrangement upon said valve member; and suspension means attached to the upper ends oi said rods.

8. In a pump plunger; the combination ot: a valve member having an opening there.- through; a rod carrying sleeve extending through said opening; a closure member adapted to close said opening, said closure member having an opening therethrough 'through which said sleeve extends, and 'adi al openings communicating with said o )ening through which said sleeve passes; vanes aiounted in such a manner that water passing through said radial openings will strike thereagainst and cause rotation of said closure member; a sleeve extending downwardly from the mouth of said opening through said closure member and around said rod carrying sleeve; a member mounted upon said rod carrying sleeve for closing the lower end-of said sleeve extending from said closure meinber; a cup gasket so mounted upon said valve member that the lip thereof entends upwardly around and abov-e the top face of said valve member; and suspension and cage forming rods mounted in circular arrangement upon said valve member, said rods being spaced away l'rom'the inner face of said lip.

9. In a pump plunger, the combination of: a valve member having an ope-ning therethrough; a rod carrying sleeve extending through said opening; a closure member adapted to close said opening, said closure member having an opening therethrough tlirough which said sleeve extends; a sleeve extending downwardly from the mouth of said opening through said closure member and around said rod carrying sleeve; a member mounted upon said rod carrying sleeve for closing the lower end of said sleeve ei:- tending 'rom said closure member; a cup gasket so mounted upon said valve member that the lip thereof extends upwardly around and above the top face of said valve member; a gasket upon said valve member at a point below said cup gasket for scraping the pump'barrel wall as said plunger moves downwardly; and a cage structure upon said valve member, said cage structure being spaced away from the inner face of said lip.

10. In a pump plunger, the combination of: a valve member having an opening therethrough; a rod carrying sleeve extending through said opening; a closure member adapted to close said opening, said closure member having an opening therethrough through which said sleeve extends, and radial openings communicating with said opening through which said sleeve passes; vanes mounted in such a. manner that water passing through said radial openings will strike thereagainst and cause rotation of said closure member; a sleeve extending downwardly from the mouth of said opening through said closure member and around said rod carrying sleeve; a member mounted upon said rod carrying sleeve for closing'the lower end of said sleeve extending from said closure member; a cup gasket so mounted upon said valve member that the lip thereof extends upwardly around and above the top face of said valve member; a gasket upon said valve member at a point below said cup gasket for scraping the pump barrel wall as said plunger moves downwardly; and suspension and cage forming rods mounted in circulararrangement upon said valve member, said rods being spaced away from the inner face of said lip.

11. In a. pump plunger, the combination of: a valve member having an opening therethrough; a rod carrying sleeve extending through said opening; a closure member adapted to close said opening, said closure member having an opening therethrough through which said sleeve extends; a sleeve extending downwardly from the mouth of said opening through said closure member and around said rod carrying sleeve; a member mounted upon said rod carrying sleeve for closing the lower end of said sleeve ei;- tending from said closure member; a cup gasket so mounted upon said valve member that the lip thereof extends upwardly around and above the top face of said valve member; a cup gasket mounted upon said valve member, at a point below said upwardly directed cup gasket, and being downwardly directed so as to scrape the pump barrel wall as said plunger moves downwardly; and a cage structure upon said valve member, said cage structure being spaced away from the inner face of said lip.

12. In a pump plunger, the combination of: a 'plurality of valve members, consecutively arranged with spaces therebetween; and means, comprising rods provided with sleeves, linking said valve members so that they operate as a. unit.

18. In a pump plunger, the combination of: a plurality of valve members having gaskets thereupon for engagement with the pump barrel wall, and being consecutively arranged with spaces therebetween; and means, comprising rods provided with sleeves, linking said valve members so that they operate as a unit.

14. In a pump plunger, the combination of: a plurality of valve members each having a downwardly directed cup gasket thereupon for scraping the pump barrel walls during' downward movement, and being consecutively arranged with spaces therebetween; and means, comprising rods provided with sleeves, linking said valve members so that they operate as a unit.

15. In a pump plunger, the combination olf: a plurality of valve members each having an upwardly directed cup gasket thereupon and a downwardly directed cup gasket thereupon for scraping the pump barrel walls during downward movement, and being consecutively arranged with spaces therebetween; and means, comprising rods provided with sleeves, linking said valve members so that they operate as a unit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 9th day of February, 1923.

DAVIS BARNARD. 

